Box-closure.



H. MATCHBTT.

BOX CLOSURE.

APPLICATION rum MALB, 1007.

970,844. Patented Sept. 20,1910.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR g v & "fl; Q'Mz-hte.

Affomeys HARRY MATCHETT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOX-CLOSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 6, 1907.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

Serial No. 360,873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY Mivronnrr, a citizen of the United States of America, residingat Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Closures, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to means for re taining boxes in closed position, and is particularly adapted for use with that type of pox commonly styled a cracker or biscuit The object of my invention is to provide a box, of the character indicated, with parts so arranged that a fastening strip which is normally separate from the box, may be passed through certain parts carried by the box and formed in the lid in such manner that the lid may be held closed by an interengagement or securing of the ends of the fastening strip, thereby permitting of the use of a strip of preferred'or individualized form, there being no permanent engagement of the strip with the box.

A further object is the relative arrange ment of the parts through which the strip is passed, whereby the strip is placed in position without the requirement of abrupt bends or the presence of exposed portions of the strip in a form liable to become readily broken while the box is in transit.

lVith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing forming part of this specification, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cracker or biscuit box secured by my improved seal, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the same, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fastening strip, Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of a portion of the cracker box illustrating a strap or staple carried thereby, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of fastening strip, Fig. 6 V is a vertical sectional v1ew of a ortion of a cracker box secured by my modified form of fastening strip.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a metallic box or casing 1 such as commonly used for holding the popular brands of crackers and biscuits, the box he ing provided with a hinged lid 2 and a transparent front plate 3 whereby the box can'be used for display purposes and the contents thereof viewed without 0 ening the box or removing the contents. T e lids 2 are ordinarily provided with depending flanges 4; having wire reinforced or rolled edges 5, said flanges overlying the front and sides of the box, and in order that my improved fastening strip can be used in connection with said box, I provide the front edge of the lid 2 with a slot or opening 6 located above the rolled ed e at a point approximately coincident witli the top plane of said rolled edge, said opening being located below and spaced from a plane corresponding to that of the top of the box, so that said opening does not lead into the interior of the box, the upper portion of the front wall of the box being located behind of andextending above the plane of the opening. Directly beneath the front slotted edge of the lid 2, I provide the box l with a strap or staple or keeper 7.

The rolled edge 5, when the lid is closed, extends to a point in proximity to the keeper 7. Said edge, however, is of a size to project outward beyond the plane of the front or exposed face of the keeper, so that a plane corresponding in direction to that'ofthe exposed face of the keeper and which is coincident with the outer face of the rolled edge, will lie without and be arallel with the plane of the keeper face, sai latter lane lying between the face of the box an the plane of said outer face of the rolled edge.

My improved fastening strip comprises a strip of soft, ductile or flexible metal 8 having a bent end 9. The strip of metal is passed through the slot 6 of the lid 2, through the strap or staple 7 and is bent upwardly into engagement with the bent end 9 of the strap, as at 10, thus firmly holding the lid in a closed position.

A modification of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, wherein the metal strip 8 is provided with a tapering end 11 and with an enlarged slotted end 12, said strip being inserted through the slots 6 and the strap or staple 7 as heretofore described, and then the taof the fastening strip, when in position,

passes to a point above the top of the slot or opening 6 intermediate the opening and the keeper 7, the upper wall of said opening limiting the upward movement of the strip between the front of the box and the flange of the lid. Hence, the point of fastening of the lid and box is entirely below and spaced from a plane corresponding to that of the top ofthe box.

Either form of my invention serves to retain the lid of the box in a'fixed position until the strip of metal is removed, thus preventing the contents of the cracker or bis-v cuit box from being spilled while the box is being handled.

By locating the keeper in suchposition as to be directly 'beneaththe rolled edge when the lid is clo'sed,the keeper is hidden to a great extent as well as protected by the rolled edge, so that liability of the keeper being broken off by a direct contact with objects during the handling of the box, is prevented. Furthermore, by this construction the parts are so positioned relatively to each other that that portion of the fastening strip which surrounds the rolled edge and passes through the'keeper is curved throughout its length and is substantially free from any sharp corners, so that liability of damage to the strip is prevented, in addition to which all of the parts are located on the outer face of the box, so that there is no requirement of the formation of openings leading into the interior of the box.

WVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a box having a flanged lid overlying the front of the box, andalso having a rolled ed 'e along the edge of the front flange of sai lid, said flange having an opening above the axis of the low and spaced from aplane corresponding to that of the top of the box and being free from abrupt bends.

2. The combination of a box havinga flanged lid overlyin the front of the box,

and also having a re led edge along the edgeof the front flange of said lid, said flange having an opening above the axis of the rolled edge, a keeper secured to the box in close proximity to the rolled edge when the lid is in closed position, the plane of the outer face of the rolled edge lying without and parallel with the plane of the exposed face of the keeper, whereby the rolled edge will form an overhanging portion for the keeper to partially hide and protect it, and a ductile metallic fastening strip removably carried by the lid and box and extending through said opening and the keeper and around the rolled edge for fastening the. lid in position, said strip, in fastening position, being located entirely below and spaced from a plane corresponding to that of the top of the box, the ends of the strip being inter-engaged to form the fastening to retain the lid in closed position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY MATCHETT..

Witnesses:

MAX H. SRoLovrrz, A. J TRIGG- 

